October 2021

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Thursday, September 30, 2021, at approximately 11:09 p.m. Maine State Police responded to a motor vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer and a car on I-95 northbound in Wells.  

The tractor-trailer, driven by 24-year-old Sahib Singh of Fresno, CA was traveling in the right lane when he observed a BMW parked in the breakdown lane. Singh moved to the middle lane from the right lane. The BMW, driven by 52-year-old Brian N. Anger of Auburn, MA pulled out directly in front of the tractor-trailer attempting to use the crossover. Singh was unable to avoid Anger and ran directly into the driver’s side of the car. Both vehicles came to rest in the median against the guardrail. It is unknown why Anger tried to use the crossover at mile 20. 

Brian Anger was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Sahib Singh, who was hauling bulk goods to Lewiston, was transported to Maine Medical Center with minor injuries. 
The crash remains under investigation.  
Northbound traffic was down to one lane and southbound traffic down to two lanes. At this time the left lane of the Turnpike northbound at mile 20 remains blocked.
Wells Fire and Rescue, Maine State Commercial vehicle, and Maine State Police traffic unit assisted at the scene.
 

# of School Visits conducted – 0

# of OUI Alcohol Arrests – 1

# of OUI Drug Arrests – 0

# of DV Arrests – 2

09-27-21

Trooper Kim Sawyer summonsed Julie Johnson (56) of Machias for leaving the scene after she hit a parked car in front of the Cigarette Shopper in Machias and left.

09-29-21

Corporal Jeff Taylor responded to a theft complaint in Lamoine where a white trailer was reported stolen in the past week.  Investigation continues.

10-02-21

Trooper Jarid Leonard arrested Cody Colbeth (28) of Machiasport for Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol.

 

 

Incident Type:         SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT

Date:                          9/29/2021

Town:                        MAPLETON

Trooper:                   TR. RIDER

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Rider responded to a residence on Hanson Lake for a 911 call of a man that had walked into the house.  No one knew who the man was, and the two females locked themselves in a back bedroom.  PIPD sent a unit to the residence where it was near the town line.  Trooper’s and Officer’s from PIPD searched the residence but did not locate anyone inside the home. 

 

Incident Type:         VIOLATION OF BAIL

Date:                          9/30/2021

Town:                        masardis

Trooper:                   TR. CASTONGUAY

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Castonguay was conducting traffic enforcement in the town of Masardis when he observed a vehicle that had an expired inspection sticker 2018/2019.  Tr. Castonguay conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the operator.  The vehicle was determined to have false attached plates.  The operator had a warrant for his arrest.  Tr. Castonguay placed the man under arrest for the warrant and issued summonses for Violation of conditions of release, False Attachment of plates.  The man was transported to Ashland PD where he was released on bail.

 

Incident Type:         DRUGS, VCR

Date:                          10/1/2021

Town:                        Benedicta tw

Trooper:                   TR. DESROSIER

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Castonguay had just cleared some road debris from the interstate in the northbound lane when he observed a pickup pass by him that had defective suspension.  Tr. Castonguay conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.  Tr. Castonguay learned that the operator was on bail for drug charges and that he could be searched at any time.  Tr. Castonguay along with Cpl. Quint conducted a search of the man and his vehicle.  Tr. Castonguay seized prescription pills that were on his person.  The man was issued summonses for his violations and was released.

 

Incident Type:         Theft

Date:                          10/01/2021

Town:                        Perham

Trooper:                   Tr. Martin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Martin met with a Perham resident when he reported the theft of his wood splitter.  The piece of equipment had been stored on the man’s property and it appeared that the machine had been stolen sometime in the last 3 weeks.  The investigation is ongoing. 

 

Incident Type:         Warrant Arrest

Date:                          10/01/2021

Town:                        Presque Isle

Trooper:                   Tr. Martin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Martin served a subpoena to a woman in Presque Isle and in doing so, learned that the woman had a warrant out for her arrest for failing to appear on traffic related charges.  The woman was arrested without incident, posted bail for her charges, and was then released from custody.

 

Incident Type:         OAS

Date:                          10/03/2021

Town:                        Hodgdon

Trooper:                   Tr. Cotton

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Cotton conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Hodgdon when he noticed the vehicle had a defective exhaust.  The operator of the vehicle noticed Tr. Cotton was preparing to pull him over and attempted to hide on a side road.  The man was unsuccessful in his attempt to hide and Tr. Cotton’s investigation revealed that the man’s license was suspended and had been revoked as a habitual offender.  The man was charged with the violation and a licensed operator was allowed to take the vehicle from the scene.

 

Incident Type:         PURSUIT

Date:                          9/28/2021

Town:                        bridgewater

Trooper:                   Tr. Mahon

Brief Synopsis:       On 09-28-21 at approximately 0800 hrs., Tr. Mahon attempted to stop Jennifer Rice, age 39 of Houlton for speeding and complaints on her operation.   Tr. Mahon observed Rice at speeds approaching 100 mph on Rt 1 in Monticello and attempted to conduct a traffic stop but Rice refused to stop, instead speeding up continuing north.  Tr. Mahon continued to pursue Rice at speeds from 90 to 100 as she traveled north on RT 1 and then turning up Rt 1A in Mars Hill.  Lt. Harris intercepted the pursuit on Rt 1A in Easton and was able to impede Rice by staying in front of her, slowing her down and ultimately Rice pulled into a driveway and stopped, where she was arrested without any further resistance.  Rice was charged with Eluding, Criminal Speed, Driving to Endanger and Failure to Stop and was transported to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.  

 

Incident Type:         THEFT

Date:                          9/28/2021

Town:                        Oakfield

Trooper:                   tr. mahon

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Mahon received a theft report from a residence in Oakfield.  The victim reported he noticed someone had taken his 100 Lb. propane tank in July and wanted to advise local law enforcement.  The investigation is ongoing.

 

Incident Type:         VIOLATION OF BAIL

Date:                          9/28/2021

Town:                        island falls

Trooper:                   tr. sylvia

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Sylvia conducted a bail check on a 28-year old Island Falls man who had three active sets of conditions.  The man provided a urine sample and tested positive for several drugs.  The man was issued a summons for VCR Class E.

 

Incident Type:         WARRANT

Date:                          9/29/2021

Town:                        perham

Trooper:                   tr. curtin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Curtin responded to a suspicious incident of a woman passed out in the driveway of a residence.  The woman was given medical attention by a local ambulance and not transported.  Tr. Curtin identified a male subject at the residence who had a no bail warrant for his arrest reference to several charges.  Tr. Curtin took the 56-year old Perham man into custody without incident and he was transported to ACJ.

 

Incident Type:         ASSAULT

Date:                          10/03/2021

Town:                        van buren

Trooper:                   cpl. casavant

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl. Casavant took a report of an assault that occurred in Van Buren between two men.  The caller advised a male subject had assaulted him at his house.  The caller waited until the man left before calling and provided Cpl. Casavant with two different first names and no last name for the suspect.  The investigation is ongoing.

On 09/27/2021, Cpl. Physic summonsed Douen Crookson for Criminal Speed for traveling 109 MPH in a 70 MPH zone.

On 09/27/2021, Tr. Ellis stopped Alec McKeage (19) of Windham on the ME Turnpike for an erratic lane change southbound in Gray. His vehicle registration was found to be suspended for tolls. His vehicle was towed away.

On 09/27/2021, Cpl. Peckham stopped Alexis Bolduc-Greene (22) of Portland for expired registration. Bolduc-Greene was charged with operating after registration suspended.

On 09/28/2021, Tr. Bourdelais stopped a vehicle going 97 MPH in a 70 MPH zone. The operator was identified as Sean Newton (33) of Old Orchard Beach. Upon further investigation it was determined Newton had an active warrant out of Biddeford DC for Failure to Appear for Driving to Endanger. Newton was transported to York County Jail without incident and summonsed accordingly.

On 09/28/2021, Tr. Ellis stopped Sheena Woodsome (50) of Dayton on the ME Turnpike for an equipment violation southbound in Falmouth. Her plates were found to falsely attached and her licensed suspended. She was charged with operating after suspension and false attachment of plates. Her vehicle was towed away.

On 09/29/2021, Cpl. Peckham stopped Waice Falconeri (26) of Biddeford for expired registration. Falconeri was charged with operating after registration suspended, VCR, and no insurance. His vehicle was towed away.

On 09/30/2021, Sgt. Duda assisted with the motor unit in providing an escort for fallen Hancock County Deputy Luke Gross. The motor unit provided an escort from the funeral home in Bucksport to the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.

On 09/30/2021, Tr. Loder was flagged down by a motorist concerned about a white vehicle operating dangerously.  Tr. Loder caught up to a white sedan that was weaving from the breakdown lane to lane 1 while traveling only 35 MPH.  After stopping the vehicle near Exit 46, Tr. Loder arrested the operator, Steven J. Willey (60) of Portland, for OUI-Drugs and VCR.  At the time of the stop, Willey was out on bail for another OUI-Drugs case.  Sgt. Porter assisted at the scene, and Falmouth Police provided a DRE.

On 09/30/2021, at approximately 2309 hours, Tr. Welch responded to the area of mile 20 northbound on the Turnpike for a report of a car vs. tractor trailer crash.  The investigation revealed that Brian N. Anger (52) of Auburn, MA attempted to use the median crossover at 20.4 and was subsequently struck (t-boned) by a northbound TT unit.  Anger was pronounced dead at the scene.  The investigation is ongoing. 

On 10/03/2021, Tr. Loder responded to a single-vehicle crash at mile 28 southbound in Arundel. The operator, Abner Najera (42) of CT, was arrested for Operating without a License, Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle, and VCR.  Najera has never had a driver’s license and was out on bail from a previous OUI & Operating w/o License arrest in Maine.

The annual observance at the Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial will take place on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, at 10 a.m. The granite memorial, located on State Street near the Maine State Capitol in Augusta, is dedicated to Maine law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
 
Maine State Police Detective Ben Campbell is the latest name to be added to the memorial, making for a total of 87 law enforcement officers. Detective Campbell was killed on April 3, 2019, when he was struck by a vehicle tire while assisting at the scene of a disabled vehicle on I-95 in Hampden. 
 
It is with profound sadness that the number of Maine law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty continues to grow. Hancock County Sheriff’s Deputy Luke Gross was struck and killed by a vehicle in Trenton on Thursday, September 23, 2021.
 
The Maine Law Enforcement Memorial was dedicated on May 25, 1991, by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association. The Executive Director and former Falmouth Police Chief Ed Tolan said, “this observance is an opportunity for law enforcement officers to honor Detective Ben Campbell and all of the fallen officers before him who gave their lives in service to our state.”
 
In attendance this year to honor and remember the service and sacrifice of these officers will be police officers from across the state, families of the fallen, dignitaries, and Governor Janet Mills who will deliver the keynote address.  

In case of inclement weather, the observance will be moved to the House Chambers of the State House. 
 

Incident Type:         warrant

Date:                          10/4/2021

Town:                        van buren

Trooper:                   TR. DESROSIER

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Desrosier responded to a suspicious person complaint in Van Buren.  It was reported a man was in the town park and kept hiding behind some boards.  Tr. Desrosier located the man and discovered he had two warrants for his arrest, one for failing to appear on theft charges and a violation of bail, the second warrant was for a probation revocation.  The man was also in possession of drugs.  The man was arrested without incident and transported to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.

Incident Type:         operating without license

Date:                          10/7/2021

Town:                        monticello

Trooper:                   CPL. QUINT

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl. Quint was parked in Monticello when a pickup passed another vehicle, in the 30-mph zone, at 58-mph.  Cpl. Quint stopped the vehicle and the driver first stated he was late for work but then said he was going bird hunting when it was pointed out that he was driving in the opposite direction of his employer.  The man then admitted to not having a driver’s license and only had a permit that expired in 2020.  The man was issued a criminal summons for operating without a license and a traffic summons for speeding.  He was given a warning for his truck not being inspected and him not wearing his seatbelt.  The man had a licensed driver come get him and the vehicle.

Incident Type:         ACCIDENT - MULTI VEHICLE

Date:                          10/7/2021

Town:                        haynesville

Trooper:                   CPL. QUINT / TR. CASTONGUAY

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl. Quint and Tr. Castonguay responded to a two-vehicle crash in Haynesville.  One vehicle, with two occupants and several dogs, was driving east towards Houlton; the second vehicle had only the driver and was going west.  The westbound driver fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the centerline, and forced the eastbound vehicle from the roadway.  The eastbound vehicle lost control avoiding the head-on crash, left the roadway, and flipped onto its side.  The other car continued across the centerline and crashed into the ditch.  The driver going west was issued a summons for failing to control a motor vehicle and for having an expired inspection.  No one was injured in the crash, however, three of the dogs ran off and could not be located.  Animal control was notified to assist the pet owners.

 Incident Type:         oas

Date:                          10/7/2021

Town:                        grand isle

Trooper:                   TR. DESROSIER

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Desrosier was in Grand Isle when he observed a woman he recognized and knew she had a suspended driver’s license.  Tr. Desrosier conducted a traffic stop and she told him she was going to get free furniture that is located just down the road from where she was stopped.  Tr. Desrosier issued the woman a criminal summons for OAS and helped her arrange to have a licensed driver come get her and the vehicle.

Incident Type:         recovered stolen vehicle

Date:                          10/7/2021

Town:                        portage

Trooper:                   TR. KILCOLLINS

Brief Synopsis:       A Game Warden reported to HRCC that he was checking a vehicle that has been parked on a wood’s road for the last couple weeks and the vehicle is stolen from New Hampshire.  The Warden requested a Trooper investigate the vehicle.  Tr. Kilcollins was in the area and went to where the vehicle was located.  After confirming it was stolen and speaking with an officer at the investigating agency, the vehicle was towed from the wood’s road.  The New Hampshire police department will arrange with the victim to recover the vehicle.

Incident Type:         OAS/Drug Possession

Date:                          10/07/2021

Town:                        Hodgdon

Trooper:                   Sgt. Fuller

Brief Synopsis:       Sgt. Fuller stopped a vehicle on Route 1 in Hodgdon for a traffic violation.  His roadside investigation revealed that the operator’s license was currently under suspension.  As he continued his investigation into the criminal activity, he found the operator to be in possession of methamphetamine.  The operator was charged with Possession of Schedule W Drugs and Operating After Habitual Offender Revocation.

Incident Type:         OAS

Date:                          10/05/2021

Town:                        hodgdon

Trooper:                   tr. mahon

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Mahon was monitoring traffic in Hodgdon when he observed a vehicle with an expired inspection sticker.  A registration query found the registration plates were illegally attached and the registered owner was under suspension.  Tr. Mahon stopped the vehicle and issued the 30-year-old Orient man summonses for OAS, Illegal Attachment and VCR. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

 Incident Type:         instructor

Date:                          10/07/2021

Town:                        houlton

Trooper:                   Sgt. Haines

Brief Synopsis:       Sgt. Haines taught Situational Use of Force for the 200 Hour Course at Houlton PD. 

Incident Type:         THEFT

Date:                          10/08/2021

Town:                        T8R3

Trooper:                   tr. sylvia

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Sylvia received a theft complaint reference to a stolen canoe.  The victim advised the theft had occurred sometime in the last two years.  The investigation is ongoing. 

 Incident Type:         THEFT

Date:                          10/08/2021

Town:                        van buren

Trooper:                   cpl. casavant

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl. Casavant took a theft report from a residence in Van Buren.  The man reported he is in the process of evicting a tenant and he heard the tenant is selling items from the house.  The investigation is ongoing to determine if it is a civil matter or criminal.

 

# of School Visits conducted – 0

# of OUI Alcohol Arrests – 0

# of OUI Drug Arrests – 0

# of DV Arrests – 0

10-06-21

Corporal Blaine Silk responded to a fatal single motor vehicle accident at 5244 Stud Mill Road, T34 MD BPP.  Deceased at the scene, Hunter Davies (21) Orrington. Excessive speed a major contributor to the accident. A passenger in the Ford Ranger pickup was uninjured. Sergeant Daniel Ryan, Trooper Einar Mattson, Trooper David Olmstead and Game Warden Allan Curtis, Forest Ranger Nicholas Bolduc and the Aurora and Old Town Fire Departments assisted.

Corporal Blaine Silk cited Shaylee Overlock of Bangor for Possession of a Scheduled Drug. Sergeant Daniel Ryan assisted.

On 10/04/2021, Tr. Ellis observed a group of individuals that had just been involved in a physical fight at the South Portland Treatment Center. Tr. Ellis and Cpl. Cropper secured the scene, interviewed the involved parties, and contacted several witnesses. The information was provided to South Portland PD.

On 10/07/2021, Tr. Ellis responded to a report of a crash on the ME Turnpike at MM 71. The driver, Edward Hyman (42) was suspected of being under the influence of drugs and was in possession of heroin. He was transported to Central Maine Medical Center and summonsed for the above offenses.

On 10/07/2021, Tr. Bourdelais assisted Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in Gray for a possibly intoxicated subject. Upon further investigation, it was determined the operator was not impaired. The vehicle registration was found to be suspended for tolls and was towed. The operator was summonsed accordingly.

On 10/08/2021, Cpl. Cote stoppped Almuntadhar Mohammed (21) of South Portland on the ME Turnpike southbound in Cumberland.  His ME driver’s license was found to be suspended.  He was summonsed for Operating after Suspension and Possession of a Suspended License.  His vehicle was towed away.

On 10/08/2021, Cpl. Cote stopped Yefry Javier Paz Crus (24) of Nashua, NH on the ME Turnpike Spur eastbound in Falmouth.  He did not have a license and was charged with Operating Without a License.  Someone came to the scene to drive him and the vehicle away.

On 10/08/2021, Tr. Keim stopped Jeffrey Thurlow (39) of Greene for criminal speed.  Thurlow was traveling 85 MPH in a posted 45 MPH speed zone.

On 10/09/2021, Tr. LiBritz stopped a vehicle northbound for failure to keep right on a divided highway. There were two male occupants and the driver, Jonathan Tompkins (29) of Poland, was suspended. Tompkins was summonsed and they were escorted off the exit where they were picked up by a licensed driver.

On 10/09/2021, Tr. Bourdelais responded to a pedestrian on the turnpike in Scarborough. The male subject was walking on the turnpike attempting to get a ride. It was determined the subject exited a vehicle on the turnpike after a verbal argument took place. He was transported to Biddeford without incident.

On 10/10/2021, Cpl. Peckham stopped Jason Williams (41) of Mapleton. Williams was charged with operating after registration suspended.

On 10/10/2021, Cpl. Peckham stopped Jonathan LaPlante (36) of Cape Neddick. LaPlante was charged with operating after registration suspended.

# of School Visits conducted – 0

# of OUI Alcohol Arrests – 1

# of OUI Drug Arrests – 0

# of DV Arrests – 0

10-09-21

Corporal Gavin Endre stopped Russell Boynton (61) of Lamoine. Russell was summonsed for Operating After Suspension as well as other motor vehicle violations.

10-12-21

Trooper Kim Sawyer received a complaint of theft.  Packages that had been delivered in Alexander have been stolen. Investigation continues.

10-13-21

Trooper Kim Sawyer received a complaint of a truck hauling single wide trailer and forcing vehicles off the road. Incident occurred by Ayers Junction Road in Charlotte. Thomas Farnham (25) of Baring Plantation was summoned for Attaching False Plates and Operating After Suspension.

10-14-21

Trooper Jarid Leonard responded to Hancock to investigate a rollover crash. Devin Beach (24) of New Brunswick was operating a fully loaded tractor trailer truck. Devin made a sharp turn that resulted in his trailer going into the ditch and ultimately rolling over. No one was injured in the crash. Hancock County Volunteer Fire Department, Maine DOT, and Dave’s Towing assisted.

10-15-21

Corporal Gavin Endre located a vehicle on the lawn of a residence in Lamoine. The operator Amber Wiggins (21) of Orland was arrested for Operating Under the Influence.

10-16-21

Corporal Gavin Endre responded to a two-vehicle crash in Gouldsboro. Veronica Gomm, (36) of Verona Island, the operator of one of the vehicles crossed the center line and struck an oncoming vehicle. Only minor injuries occurred. Dave’s Towing removed both vehicles. 

 

 

On 10/12/2021, Cpl. Cropper responded to a single vehicle crash northbound at MM 37 in Saco. The operator, Connor A. Gardner (35) of Englewood, CO, drifted off of the roadway and crashed head on with a tree. Gardner was not wearing his seatbelt and hit his head on the windshield. Gardner was transported to MMC with a head injury. Gardner was suspended in MS and did not have a license in CO or ME. Gardner was summonsed for Operating Without a License.

On 10/12/2021, Tr. Ellis stopped Godgiven Senga (42) of Massachusetts on the ME turnpike for erratic operation southbound in Scarborough. He was found to have a warrant for his arrest out of New Hampshire. He was charged as a fugitive from justice and transported to York County Jail. His vehicle was towed away.

On 10/12/2021, Tr. Ellis stopped Ayom Anyang (31) of New Hampshire on I-295 for erratic operation northbound in South Portland. The vehicle had been called in as a traffic complaint prior to the stop. She was charged with driving to endanger and her vehicle was towed away.  

On 10/14/2021, Cpl. Peckham stopped Jacob Hillman (37) for an expired and suspended registration. Hillman was charged with VCR x3, attaching false plates, OAS, and no insurance, and the vehicle was towed.

On 10/15/2021, Tr. Bourdelais and Tr. Loder responded to a vehicle fire on the turnpike in Scarborough. The operator stated the cabin began to fill with smoke and he was able to safely maneuver the truck to the shoulder before the flames spread. Nobody was injured during the incident and the commercial vehicle unit was able to address any compliance concerns.

 

On 10/16/2021, at approximately 0040 hours, Tr. Flynn stopped a vehicle for speeding at MM 6 northbound. Upon further investigation, the operator, Spencer Carroll (20) of York, was arrested and charged with OUI. 

On 10/17/2021, Cpl. Physic summonsed Robert Ventimiglia Jr. for Criminal Speed.

On 10/17/2021, Cpl. Peckham located a stranded motorist on the southbound off ramp in Gray. Amie Ballard (38) was charged with VCR x4, Unlawful Possession of Schedule W Drug, and no insurance, and the vehicle was towed.